Afternoon Chop: Braves News 4/10
By Jeff Schafer
Medlen goes seven strong for Braves’ fifth straight win
Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
"Even when Kris Medlen felt out of sorts in the early going, he protected a lead for the Atlanta Braves. And when the right-hander finally found his groove, outs came quickly.Medlen allowed only an unearned run in seven innings Tuesday night, and the Braves earned their fifth consecutive victory by beating the punchlessMiami Marlins 3-2.Medlen, who went 10-1 last year but lost his first start this season, retired the final 10 batters he faced and needed only 24 pitches in his last three innings.“Once the adrenaline wore off, I was able to calm down and make some better pitches,” he said. “That felt like the old me. I was just mixing in pitches better and executing better. I felt like I was all over the place the first couple of innings.”"
Offense fails to deliver in Miami Marlins’ loss to Atlanta Braves
"Tuesday it was Kris Medlen, who owns baseball’s lowest ERA since the All-Star Break last season (9-1, 1.08 ERA entering Tuesday’s game), who kept them in check with his sinker. Medlen, who failed to give up a run to the Marlins in a dozen innings here in South Florida last season, spun seven innings and got a two-run home run by rookie catcher Evan Gattis in the first inning to help guide the Braves (7-1) to victory.Atlanta, which tacked on an important insurance run in the eighth on Justin Upton’s RBI double to make it 3-1, gave up a manufactured run to the Marlins in the eighth when Placido Polanco, who had two of the Marlins’ hits, stroked a two-out RBI single to right off reliever Eric O’Flaherty.But there would be no comeback in the ninth. Craig Kimbrel shut the door, picking up his fourth save of the season and second in as many nights. After giving up a leadoff walk to Donovan Solano, catcher Rob Brantly attempted to lay down a bunt. But the ball was lined directly into the glove of third baseman and defensive replacement Ramiro Pena, who doubled up Solano at first."
Gattis to get more starts than Laird for now
Apr 3, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis (24) hits a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
"Rookie slugger Evan Gattis is expected to start more games at catcher than veteran Gerald Laird while first baseman Freddie Freeman is on the disabled list, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Tuesday.His reasoning is that Gattis provides a good replacement in the fourth spot in the lineup while Freeman is on the 15-day disabled list. Freeman strained an oblique muscle Saturday and can’t return from the DL before April 22.“It’s something that we talked about as coaches,” Gonzalez said. “Until we start getting that offense clicking a little bit on all cylinders…. We were going every other (game) with Gerald and him (rotating starts). But maybe we got 2-to-1 now, or 3-to-1, with Gattis. Because he can fill that four-hole spot for you"
Atlanta Braves Minor League Action
"Gwinnett Braves 8, Durham Bulls 12Ernesto Mejia 1B 2-5, 2B, HR (3), 3 RBI, .318 AVGMatt Pagnozzi C 2-3, 2B, RBI, BB, .364 AVGSean Kazmar SS 1-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, .167 AVGDaniel Rodriguez 0.1 IP, 9 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 0 K, 48.60 ERAWifrin Obispo 1.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 10.80 ERARyan Buchter 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0.00 ERADusty Hughes 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 6.00 ERADaniel Rodriguez’s ERA won’t recover from this one. The 28 year old Mexican lefty allowed 9 earned runs while recording just 1 out, giving up 7 hits and 2 walks. Wifrin Obispo, Ryan Buchter, and Dusty Hughes closed out the game, combining to strike out 7 over 4 scoreless innings. Ernesto Mejia clubbed out a double and his third homer of the year, and 5 of his 7 hits on the season have gone for extra bases. Matt Pagnozzi reached base 3 times, and he’s gone 3-6 with 2 walks in his last 2 games.Sean Gilmartin will start the series finale Wednesday evening against Chris Archer for the Bulls."